ABRAHAM’S JOURNEY! The journey of faith.

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH.

”So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken” Gen 12:4.

Abraham was one of the greatest men in history. No man had received greater promises from God.
He was known by his great faith and his personal character.
He was called ..”A FRIEND OF GOD” because he..Believed God!
We can learn many lessons by studying his personal history.

”HIS CALL OF FAITH”

There are three interesting verses in the next two chapters.
He went FORTH into Canaan.
Then He went DOWN to Egypt.
Then he went UP to Canaan once again.

He responded in faith.
He went to Egypt by his own free will.
Then he went up back to Canaan..because he learnt that faith and obedience toward God..is better than human reason.

Going to Canaan was..FAITH RESPONDING!

Going to Egypt was..FAITH RECEEDING!

Going back to Canaan to the place of the Altar is..FAITH RETURNING!

All of us have slips of faith. Though we know that God has given us clear instructions in His Word on many issues. Yet we hear the Evil One say…
“Hath God really said,” lnstead of obeying “It is writtens” in the Bible we go our own way, and use reasonable excuses to justify our actions.

But faith and obedience are above reason! Don’t listen to your emotions or feelings to disobey, where God has already given clear instructions. Dont use the excuse, “I will pray about it some more” We all have made mistakes and failed our Lord.
Notice that Abraham returned to Canaan to call upon his God once again.

In Christ we are welcome back into his Presence..where we can find..

“GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED

Pray, “Lord I’m coming Home.”

FAITH RESPONDING..

FAITH RECEEDING!

Gen 12:10. Last time we learned in Abraham’s Life there are three aspects of faith,
He went FORTH to Canaan.
He went DOWN intoEgypt.
He went BACK to Canaan.

1. He responded to God’s command…
(As the Lord had spoken)
“Go out to a land that I will show you.”

2. Obedience to His leading is full of His Promises “I will make of you a great nation.”

You and I are also called to a life of Faith. When we are obedient, firstly to be separate from the world, secondly to obey God. When we do, we enjoy Fellowship with God, assurance and Guidence from the Holy Spirit.
Living by reason will not get us anywhere, but down the road to failure!
We need to be aware
of doing God’s will in every detail.

Why did Abraham go down to Egypt?
There was a famine in the land. He didn’t ask the Lord for guidance. He judged the circumstances and reasoned within himself what direction he should take.

In Egypt he told his ever so beautiful wife Sarai to, present herself as his sister!
She finds herself in Pharaoh’s harem!

Yet God in all his Faithfulness intervened and she was restored to her husband once again. Egypt God had caused a severe plague to come upon the Egyptians.

Abraham marred his testimony and was rebuked by a pagan King for his selfish, but seemingly good intentions.

We all have these tendencies to put ourselves first.
It may look good in the sight of people.
But we are “fake” in the eyes of God.

Remember that popular song.
“I did it My Way” Don’t sing it!
Sing instead..
“I DELIGHT TO DO YOUR WILL, OH LORD.”

Our message….
KEEP EGYPT OUT OF OUR LIVES. OR EGYPT WILL BECOME A PART OF US!!

There are Great things ahead, for you!

“FAITH RETURNING”

“AND ABRAHAM WENT OUT OF EGYPT UNTO THE PLACE OF THE ALTAR, WHICH HE FIRST MADE”
Gen13:1-4.

As we noted in our previous devotional, when Abraham stepped aside from his faith walk and took matters into his own hands..
beautiful Sarai found herself in the Egyptian Kings Harem! (wasn’t she submissive?)

This is the result of when we slip away from the faith life and lapse into self-management.

We have the tendency to want quick fixes, Instead of waiting on God in prayer.

Things can become complicated..and we hurt others along the way.
We ask, “why have I lost the sense of God’s presence..why does He not intervene?”
How can I get out of this tangle?”

We cannot run our Spiritual lives by the wisdom of the flesh.
God never fails us, we choose to disregard prayer.

We are called to faith and the faith-filled principle is meant to cover ALL our decisions.
Personally I have had it said to me, “You need to use common sense” No! Ask God about everything, it is much safer!
Faith should NEVER impoverish our lives. It Enriches and Transforms it!

But now we see Abraham RETURNING.

He went up out of Egypt into the place of the Altar which he first built.
Thank God that if a man of faith can “Lapse,” he can also “Recover.”
Praise he Lord so can we!
He called upon the Lord his God Jehovah and God restored him.

He is always willing to restore us when we come in repentance and rededication.

The moment He sees you are coming back, He is there with Wide Open Arms to receive you.

He says..”I WILL HEAL YOUR BACKSLIDINGS.”
“AND I WILL LOVE YOU FREELY”
Hosea 14:4.

RELAPSE INTO RECOVERY!!

AMEN.